Are you a nurse working in the healthcare sector within the UK? Did you know that you could become an expert witness? If you are interested in some extra income, this article contains everything you need to know about how you can become an expert witness.
Expert witnesses are those at the head of their field, who have years of experience in their industry. Expert witnesses in nursing are asked to produce reports often dealing with issues of breach of duty and causation.
What Does an Expert Witness Do?
As an expert witness, you would primarily produce reports dealing with issues of breach of duty and causation. These reports are based on the evidence provided to you, and should offer a balanced and unbiased view of the case. Your reports will be used as evidence, helping solicitors to decide if claims have merit.
As an expert on our panel, we handle all of the admin work for you. We communicate with clients for you, allowing you to focus on writing reports. If you have any problems, or need anything at all, we are always happy to provide support and help in any way we can.
You will be required to consider whether each case is within your area of expertise and ensure that you have no conflict of interest. Your report should offer a balanced view of the case, based on the evidence provided and your own experience. We will support you throughout the whole process.
Will You Get Paid For Your Work As An Expert Witness?
As an expert witness you will be paid not only for writing the report itself, but reviewing the records provided to you, further work that may be requested of you and for attending any teleconferences or remote meetings. At Apex Health Associates, we pride ourselves on always paying our experts within 30 days, no matter what.
What Type Of Nurse Can Become An Expert Witness?
Expert witnesses from all areas of healthcare are in demand, from midwives and occupational therapists to mental health nurses and tissue viability nurses. At Apex Health Associates, our current panel contains a wide variety of specialisations, but we are always looking to expand on this.
Are There Any Requirements To Become An Expert Witness?
To become an expert witness, you will need to meet certain criteria:
You must have at least a decade of experience in your area of specialisation
You must have achieved at least a band 7 in your field.
If you have not previously worked as an expert witness, you may be asked to undertake some training provided by Apex Health Associates.
Do You Need To Complete Any Training?
If you have never worked as an expert witness before, you may be asked to undertake some training provided by Apex Health Associates.
This training will help you to develop your skills and ensure that you have all the support you need to produce reports. Our training programme is completely online so you can complete the material at your own pace.
Become an Expert Witness in the UK
If you are interested in joining our panel of experts, or have any questions, we would love to hear from you, so please do get in touch today!
Further Information:
Crown Prosecution Service Notes on Expert Witnesses
The UK Government website’s information for Expert Witnesses in Legal Aid Cases
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Expert Witness Guide
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